Towel dispenser



K Feb. 20, 1945. 1 LPRICE ET A1.

TOWEL DISPENSER I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 18

y Mw/My @wwe m25 m Feb. zo, 1945. L, 'FENCE ET'AL 2,369,851

TOWEL DISPENSER Filed Feb. 18, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 *l l.uxsnTitel) PATENT forel-CE l TOWEL DISPENSER Laurence'fL. Price, Los Angeles, Aand Maurice This invention Arlelrates:w I to-,fimprovernents in towel jdispensers. i

The towel dispenser; embodying the' present invention hasl been primarily designed for dispensing'fpaper toweling l but features thereof may be incorporated in 'devices' for dispensing cloth toweling'if so desired. v

An object ofthe inventionisto yprovi-'dea towel dispenser wherein fajfpredetermined length 'of toweling is dispensedor Withdrawn from the device after which furtherwithdrawalof `the toweling'` is 'arrested for la vpreheterrnined length of time before a subsequentA withdrawal can beaccomplished, andtoprovide 'a novel,j simple, 4durable, andeicient time-delay means for holding Ehe toweling for such kpredetermined length of lme. In greater detail, fthe improved time-delay means :comprises-fa deformable vacuum cup formed of `rubber or f other deformable material which I is forced 'against' arigid, flat, stationary Seat `in V'Which-a-contr'c'ill aJole air inlet v'is' formed.

' When* the Vacuum cup is forced against'fthe' seat airtherein'is expelled. The vair `inlet permits air to ``s1ov`i1ly=enter the interior of -t'he `vacuum and thus release? it rOm'thef-seat. YIt"'l1`as been proposed to secure "atime-lde'lay means employing vtwo opposed vacuum -c'lu'p'sfwhich mutually engage. "The ladvantagesof 'the' use of-a -single vacuum cnpand a at seat thereof are vthat the constructionfis to alarg'eext'ent, self-'cleaning rin that dust and particlesr 'of l the paper tov'veling `are blown offiof `the seat by `the'seating Vacuum cup. Wherev opposed vacuum-cups `are used thelower cup acts :somewhatas a 'container f'for 'dust and paper "particles 'sothat y.when It'he vacuumA cups mutually engage these` paperrparticle's are retained in a position tol be :bloWn'out'through-the air inlet'opening to c1og;orf.plug the needle valve winding Vof the toweling vand 'possible interferencewith the 'dispensing mechanism. To this end, anobject o fthe .inventionis to'provide a novel Aform of friction* brakel whichV canfbe easily movedl finto j and out of engaging position with the supplyr roll to facilitate fthe insertion` of replacement rolls.

mesne assignf 'Another object ofv the,- invention is'fto provide a novel and simple 'frictionr` plate in conjunction with the measuring `vrollof "the dispenser which guides thev withdrawn end of the toweling'o'ver andaround the i'neasnrin'g rollso that` the measuring roll will be caused "to'accurately' measure the portiondispensed" and 'which vwill provide means enab1ing'7the Withdrawn end to be-severed fromthebalance of the rollt Anotherobject of the invention is to provide aydispensing mechanism vfor towelingwherein a predetermined length of t'oweling is withdrawn from themachine and Whenthe predetermined or `i'neasured length"4 of lto'weling fis VWithdrawn further'withdrawal is prevented for a predetermined length of time, after which the mechanism 'mechanism'vi's released for subsequent operation za ling position;

ist

portion of the succeeding towel Will-be extended to be grasped to 'facilitate furtherwithdrawal."

Itis a further object of the inventionltoprovide a simple construction which may be either automatic or semi-automatic in itsoperation .toeject 'aportion-of"the succeeding towel-at the time of release. i I ..1

Withthe foregoing 'and .other objects-in view, which Will be made manifest in the following Ide- -tailed"description'and specically pointed out in the appended claimyreference is had to'the lac- *companyingdrawings for an illustrative embodiment ofthe inventionywherein:

'Figure 1 is asectional view through the improved paper' towel'dispenser, the section belng taken main1yjustfbehind the l front iwall of vthe 'dispenser to illustrate internal construction;

.-,' Fig. 2 isa horizontal :section-taken substantially uporrthejlinefg-.i- Z:gipOnFgt "-1Fig, v3' is ,amvertcalfrsection taken'jsubstantially upon 'the line'p3-3 :upon Fig. `1; illustrating the parts in normal or released position;l

Fig 4 is a partialvertical section y,similar sto FigfB illustrating` the parts in .flockingor arrestf-1Fig.`f5 is a sectional viewltaken."substantially Aupon-'the line 5-5=upon"Fig. tv1' illustratingith'e 'ejecting'mechani'srm thefe'jecting mechanism being attached in such a manner as to produce automatic ejection upon release of the mechanism;

and

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 illustrating the parts as being connected to accomplish semiautomatic ejection upon release as will hereinafter be explained.

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout, the mechanism is enclosed within a suitable housing, generally designated at I0. which may have an openable cover II and which has an outlet opening I2 for the ejection of the toweling. This housing is so designed as to be suitable for mounting on a wall at any convenient location. Within the housing adjacent the end walls thereof Athere are two partitions I3 and I4 and on the inner facecf partition I4 there are mounted nested discs or plates I5 and I6 which are rotatably connected together such as by rivet I1. The disc or plate I5 is permanently attached to the inner face of partition I4 such as by welding. The disc or plate I6 is rotatable with respect thereto and is designed to enter -the end of the central core or opening in the supply roll of toweling R, thus making provision for rotatably mounting the supply roll on partition I4. Partitionr I3 has an opening I8 formed therein adjacent which there is secured a spring I8 which may have its lower end rigidly fastened such as by welding, to the outer face of the partition. This spring extends through the opening and is equipped with a handle 2D disposed on the outer side of the partition. The spring has a disc or plate 2| rigidly attached thereto on which is nested a plate 22. A bolt -23 extends through the spring I9 and the two plates and is equipped with a spring 24 which urges the two plates into engagement. One end of the roll R. has a diametrical groove 25 cut therein and the plate 22 is provided with` portions designed to enter and t the inner or central portion o-f the groove. In this manner, the roll R is, in effect, locked or keyed to the plate 22 and as the plate 22 is urged into frictional engagement with plate 2|, this forms a type of friction brake or drag kwhich rotatably supports the left-hand end of the supply roll. If desired, leather or other friction means may be interposed between the plates to increase the frictional engagement therebetween.

By this construction it will be appreciated-that a type of friction drag brake supports the supply roll which will prevent the roll from spinning or coasting even though the toweling is suddenly jerked theefrom In order to replace a supply roll, it is merely necessary to spring the spring I9 outwardly by means of handle 20 permitting the application of a new supply roll, the diametrical groove 25 of which may be caused to fit properly on the disc or'plate 22. The diametrical groove formed on the end of the supply roll also serves another function. It enables a person undertaking to service the dispenser to ascertain how Vmuch toweling remains on the supply roll within the machine without opening the machine to ascertain this. It will be understood that the `ygroove 25 forms notches in the ends of the layers of paper making up the roll. Adjacent the outside of a complete roll these notches are rather Widely spaced, whereas adjacent the center of the roll these notches are closely arranged. Thus, when anyone desires to ascertain how much paper remains on the supply roll within the machine, it

. grooves.

- replacement.

Below the supply roll R, and forwardly thereof a measuring roll 26 is rotatably mounted between partitions I3 and I4. This measuring roll is preferably grooved on its exterior as indicated at 21, and a stripper 28 is mounted between the partitions carrying fingers 29 which enter the The stripper Serves to prevent the free end 30 .of the paper toweling which is trained over the measuring roll from following around the measuring roll as the measuring roll rotates. The exterior surface of the measuring roll may be rubber covered or otherwise faced to form a goodfrictional gripping with the paper of the paper toweling. The free end 30 is urged into snug, frictional engagement with the measuring roll by means of a friction plate 3|. The friction plate 3| is curved so as to fit around a substantial portion of the peripheral surface of the measuring roll. As shown in Fig. 5, the curvature is such as to cause the paper to firmly engage the measuring roll around nearly one-fourth of the surface of the measuring roll. The friction plate 3| is mounted by means of ears 32 on small bolts 33 which extend through slots 34 in the partitions I3 and I4. In this way the friction plate is mounted for rotation or tilting so as to accommodate itself to themeasuring roll, and it is also mounted for sliding movement toward or away from the measuring roll. The friction plate is urged into engagement with the paper 30 trained around the measuring roll by means of a spring 35 which is fastened to the front of the friction plate and which bears'against the interior surface of the front wall of the housing. Excessive tilting of the friction plate is prevented by means of stops 36 which may be fastened to the front wall of the housing I0 in such a position as to be engageable by the downwardly extending portion of the friction plate.

The friction plate extends vertically downward from the forward side of the measuring roll and at its lower end it providesk a severing edge 37 which may be in the nature of a serrated or sawtoothed edge as clearly shown in Fig. 1.l The end of the paper 3l) which is trained around the measuring roll is guided by this lower portion through outlet opening I2 and when the ejected portion of the paper is pulled it may be severed from the remaining paper within the machine along the severing edge 31.

One end of the measuring roll is provided with a pinion 38 disposed on the outer side of partition I3. This pinion meshes with a gear 39 on a shaft 40 extending transversely through the machine. Gear 39 constitutes a rotary means rotatable as the paper is withdrawn from the machine. It is equipped with a stop 4I constituting a rotary stop engageable withl finger 42 on a lever 43 pivoted at 44 on the outer side of partition I3. The lever 43 also provides a stop 45 which, when swung from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the positionshown in Fig. 4, is engageable by the rotary stop 4I to arrest rotation of gear 39 and consequently of the measuring roll 26. On the pivot 44 there may be provided a back-up pawl 46 engageable with the teeth on a needle valve 54.

,the position shown in Fig. 3rby means of a.

nagging the an` inlet :gear-13s to' stevent? reye'rsefrtationtfthe-gear andante measuring ren. f

' V' i Afeaturefof the nventionwconcerns:the coni the return' of yf'th'e `lever "43ffromthe-position shownirirjrg. eroine-.position snownin Fig. r3.

This tinieLdelay means comprises -'a'frubberordeformable yvacuun'i` 'cup fastened onto the :lever '43'r and which is adjusted .in the @desired 'position byv means of' jamb nuts f 4t f and'V 45 which are threadedfonto'the boltor-'stem"50. :'I'hie vacuuml cupis'engageable with5a-seatl15| inthe form nf a small sheet metal angle attacl'ed-tov the outefrffaceof-gpartition I3. Attached to its center-isa,smallnipplec52 which .provides an fB'y aslightfalterationy the present mechanism may-'be converted` to. a /serniaautoma'tic ejection of the paper towel when thevacuum cup-` is' re'- leased.

l This adjustment is accomplished by shifting linkf59to arm'58JWhen-ths connected, 'asA shown` inl Fig. "6; 'arn` 1st'o'p's in" the dotted line position shown'- in/"Figr-wvhenfstop'jlll engages stop its. In this'jptsiuon it v.win benotedfthat air inlet indicated at 53 controlled by means of f They lever 43 is urged into tension spring 55. `:In this form of construction, when stop 4| engages 'finger 42 the vacuum cup is forced downwardly against the seat. i-*The air within thevvacuum c up is-Fexpelled beneath its edges and toa slight extentthrough the airinlet 53. When the stopk 4| has passed from` beneath the finger into engagement with stop 45, air then slowly enters the interior ofthe vacuum cup through the air 'inlet 53 and finally releases the vacuum cup from the seat. The rate of release is, of course, controlled yby the adjustment lof the needle valve. A yfeature of this form of construction is that any dust or paper particles tending to collect on the seat are expelled by the air forced out of the seating vacuum cup. As

lthe seat is atvthere is notendency for the seat iso/retain thereon any yof these `dust or `paper particles. Consequently, danger Voi?, vpluggingy ork passage is reduced to a minimum.

i On the opposite end ,of shaft 40 which is dis--` posed on the outer side of partition i4 there is arranged a small crank 56 having two arms 5.1 and 58.v In the position shown in Fig. 5 alink l 59 is pivotally attached to arm 51 and isurged upwardlybymeans of a coil spring 6|] attached to the topof housing |01 Arm` 51 is `so arranged that A'when stop 4| is engaged by stop 45 to arrest further rotation ofthe measuring roll the arm `will be in the dotted line position shown in Fig. 5. `In thisv position, it will be vnoted that arm 51 haspassed over orfbeyond center so that the effect of spring 60 isI to urge arm 51 to continue in its direction of rotation as indicated bythe arrows "on Fig. 5f. lContinued rotationv of the arm andvof shaft 40 is; of course, prevented as long as stops 4| and 45 are in en'- gagement. When the vacuum cup 41, however,

is released Vshaft 40 is'then free to rotate and springiill may then rotate the arm and the' shaft from the dotted line position sho-wn in Fig. 5 to the full line position shown in Fig.'.`5. This rov tation takes place automatically upon release of stop 4| bystop 45. It produces a small rotation of thevmea'suring roll vand consequently;when stop 4| `is released there is an automatic ejectionv of a small portion ofthe subsequent towel.,fwhich may be grasped to pull out the subsequentflength of towel `which is vmeasured by theA measuring roll until stop 4| again engages stop45.

The above-described construction produces an automatic ejection of the papertowel when the dispenser is released... However, in some in stances `it Vis undesirable to have an automatic k veiectionof the toweling' when stop 4|is released.

There are circumstances when such .automatic ejection is conducive toa Wasting of towels in the'point f connectionbetweenlink 59,-an`d4arrn 58 has not passed over center as yet inthe di-r rectionof rotation. Reverse rotation of shaft 40 is, of course, prevented by back-up pawl 45.

With this alteration madait is necessary to ro tatev the measuring roll forwardly until the con .nection indicated at 6| has passed over center.

When this is done the spring B0 becomes eifective to rotate shaft 40 and arm 58 into the full line position shown in Fig. 6. To accomplish this rotation the measuring rollis provided with a handle 62 arranged on thecuter side of the housing. The measuringiroll cannot be rotated by the handle until stops 4| and 45 have' disengagecL However, when they have disengaged by the release of the vacuum cup, handle 62 may be rturned a short distance to move connections 6| overcenter after which spring 6U will be effective to rotate shaft 40 approximately onefhalf of a revolution which causes the measuring roll to i bev rotated a suiiicient distance to eject the desired length of the free end of the subsequent towel to enable its being grasped to operate the rmachine through a subsequent cycle of operations. l s

The operation o-f themachine may be briefly described as follows: vWith thev machine in normalposition there is a small portion of toweling protruding through' outlet opening I2. This is -grasped and pulled downwardly causing theA measuring roll to rrotate until stops-4| yand 45 engage when further rotation `of the measuring r roll isprevented or arrested.' The paper -is held in iirm engagementwith themeasuring roll so lthat it will notr slip thereover by the springedge 31.

rpressed friction plateV 3|.

measuring roll is arrested, further-.tension on the paper causes it to be severed along the severing Movement of lever 43 by engagement of stop 4| with nger 42 prior to the mutual engagement of stops 4| and 45 causes the vacuum cup to be forced downwardly against yits seat against the action of vspring '55. It remains in this position for a predetermined lengthof time, namely, thattime required for suflicient air to enter past needlevalve 54 to effect a release of the vacuum cup. When thevacuum cup is released,

spring `lll becomes eifective to continue rotation of gear 39 for ashort distance, this being occasioned b-y the swinging of arm V51 from the dotv`ted line position shown in Fig. 5 tothe full line position shown therein. Or, if'the construction is connected to arm 58 small rotation of handle 62 is necessary to cause spring 60 to become effective. Rotation of gear 39',l and shaft 40 produces adjustment of the free end of the paper towel into a position as shown in Fig. 5.

Whenever the supply of toweling has become exhausted or nearly so the cover ofthe vhousing is vopencd and spring I8 is swung outwardly by When rotation of the means 4of handle `z2() permitting the insertion of a replacing roll. It is merely necessary with the replacing roll to start the free end of its paper between lthe measuring roll and friction plate 3l to enable the machine to resume operation.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as dened by the ap pended claim.

We claim: l

In a towel dispensenrotary means adapted to rotate as the toweling is dispensed, means for arresting rotation ofthe rotary means when a predetermined length of toweling is dispensed, time-delay means for releasing the arresting means after a predetermined length of time, an 

